Who Gives A Fish Forums

My betta's been acting kinda sketchy lately, like he's not eating much and just chills at the bottom. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank's a 5 gallon with a sponge filter, heated to 78. Anyone got ideas what's up?

Sounds like it could be early signs of swim bladder disease or maybe stress. How often do you do water changes? And what's the tank's decor like? Too much clutter can stress them out. I'd recommend checking the temp consistency too, sometimes heaters fail.

Yep, my guy did the same thing last month. Turned out the heater was busted and the temp was dropping at night. Got a new one and he perked right up. Maybe try a different heater brand?

fusioncore wrote: ↑Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:40 am Yep, my guy did the same thing last month. Turned out the heater was busted and the temp was dropping at night. Got a new one and he perked right up. Maybe try a different heater brand?

That's a good point. I've had issues with cheap heaters before. What brand are you using now?

Could also be a bacterial infection. I'd try adding some aquarium salt and see if that helps. Just a teaspoon per gallon, dissolved first. Keep an eye on his fins too, if they start looking ragged, it might be fin rot.

Agree with the salt suggestion. Also, how's the lighting? Too much light can stress them out. I keep mine on a 6-hour cycle with a timer. And what's his diet like? Variety is key, try mixing in frozen or live food if you're just doing pellets.

Man, bettas are such drama queens sometimes. Mine once refused to eat for a week because I moved his favorite leaf. But yeah, check the heater and maybe try some salt. Hope he perks up soon!

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna test the heater with a separate thermometer and try the salt. He's on pellets but I'll grab some frozen bloodworms too. Appreciate it!

rivetax wrote: ↑Tue Aug 19, 2025 4:04 pm Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna test the heater with a separate thermometer and try the salt. He's on pellets but I'll grab some frozen bloodworms too. Appreciate it!

No problem. Keep us posted on how he does. Sometimes it's just a weird phase they go through.

Yeah, bloodworms are a great addition. Just don't overdo it, they're kinda like junk food for bettas. Once or twice a week is plenty. And make sure they're thawed properly before feeding.